Gap Inc. Business Direct has signed a deal with wholesale distributor Staton Corporate & Casual to carry Gap and Old Navy-branded corporate apparel.
Under the deal, Staton, a Dallas-based wholesale supplier of imprintable corporate apparel, casual apparel and sportswear, will roll out more than 60 different styles of Gap and Old Navy apparel products, including casual sportswear, for Gap. The entire line of Gap and Old Navy apparel is expected to be stocked by month’s end, said Lea Robinson, VP-marketing/credit, for Staton Corporate& Casual.
“The Gap and Old Navy brands are well known to all consumers,” Robinson said. “They provide our customers a brand that sells itself. Staton believes in name brands. Gap and Old Navy are known for having the right styling, quality, fit and value that we continually strive to bring our customers.”
The new deal and lines debuted last week at the ASI Show in Orlando. Staton ranks No. 8 on the Advertising Specialty Institute’s Top 40 supplier list and is the first distributor to carry Gap and Old Navy corporate apparel for the promotional products industry.
For Gap, the deal allows the company to expand its corporate apparel business into Staton’s already established base of promotional products distributors.
“Supplying bulk orders of customized corporate clothing requires a unique distribution and fulfillment process,” said Keith Mercier, senior director, Gap Inc. Business Direct, in a statement. “We turned to Staton, because it is a proven expert in corporate apparel sales and distribution. Working with Staton allows us to do what we do best— and market high-quality, fashionable corporate apparel and accessories.”
Gap’s lineup of products includes everything from jean jackets, dress shirts and sweaters T-shirts to Old Navy’s performance fleece, T-shirts and flip-flops.
Initially, Gap and Old Navy apparel will be shipped from Staton’s Dallas-based distribution center. As inventory becomes readily available, apparel will roll out from Staton’s Fullerton, CA, Orlando, FL and Memphis, TN, locations, Robinson said. The entire line of Gap and Old Navy apparel is expected to be stocked by month’s end.
“Partnering with the Gap & Old Navy strengthens our ability to take care of our customers in a way that no other brands could,” Robinson said. “And taking care of customers is what it is all about.”
Staton is promoting its partnership on its homepage Statonwholesale.com, which greets visitors with a teaser page showcasing its new relationship with Gap and Old Navy brands. Visitors can also sign up to receive information about Staton’s Gap and Old Navy corporate apparel at Statonwholesale.com/cf/feedback.cfm?displaymode=gap.
Gap Inc. Business Direct launched a corporate apparel catalog to target small and large companies interested in logo apparel last summer (P&I July 20).
In other news from the ASI Show, SanMar Corp., a promotional products supplier of corporate identity apparel debuted its launch of the Nike Golf corporate apparel collection. Nike Golf is the apparel sponsor of PGA professional Tiger Woods. Broder Bros. Co. had carried the line exclusively for the last three years.
The new deal with SanMar took effect Jan. 1. It includes 25 styles of golf apparel and accessories for men and women. The line features sport shirts, mock turtlenecks, jackets, wind shirts, wind vests, headwear and accessory items, John Lindgren, the marketing manager for SanMar, said last week at the show.
Meanwhile, imprintable sportswear distributor Broder Bros. Co., which includes the Broder, Alpha Shirt Co. and NES Clothing brands, showed off its new apparel deals with Adidas Golf and Champion.
BIC Graphic USA showcased its new Easy-Glide System that “offers 50% smoother and bolder writing than our current ballpoint ink.” BIC asked attendees to try out the new system at its booth and asked for comments. Those who participated were entered into a sweeps for a chance to win a Sport Kayak displayed at the booth.
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